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You may have seen the horror stories on TikTok: social media influencers talking about “migrating” dermal fillers.

This phenomenon happens when cosmetic fillers used to plump up lips and cheeks move (migrate) from their intended area. The result is often a lumpy, odd look.

But does filler migration really happen that often? And what can you do about it?

Let’s look at what cosmetic fillers are, what can go wrong, and how doctors can fix problems by dissolving filler.

What Are Fillers?

Fillers are injectable gels that create and add volume under the skin. Doctors also call these treatments dermal fillers or cosmetic fillers.

Cosmetic fillers have become increasingly popular because they can rejuvenate your face’s appearance without surgery. They’re a minimally invasive way to look more youthful or correct problem areas.

Dermal fillers can plump up your lips and add fullness to hollow areas under your eyes. The injections smooth out lines and wrinkles, giving you a more youthful appearance. Cosmetic dermatologists and plastic surgeons also use fillers to diminish scars or restore volume to hands.

Fillers consist of manmade ingredients similar to substances that occur naturally in your body. One of the most popular fillers is hyaluronic acid.

Dermal fillers are popular because they:

• Are convenient — You can get the injections in a doctor’s office.
• Are safe and effective for most people — They work on all skin colors.
• Aren’t permanent — Results from most fillers only last for a few months to a year.
• Work quickly — There’s virtually no downtime with dermal fillers. You don’t need to miss work or school to recover from a cosmetic filler procedure.

What Happens When You Get Fillers?

Many filler treatments require only one office visit and take less than 30 minutes.

Here’s what happens:

1. You receive an anesthetic to cut down on discomfort.
2. Your doctor injects the filler. You may feel some minor stinging.
3. You ice the area for 15 to 20 minutes to reduce redness and swelling.

Most people can return to work, school, and normal activities the same day. But you should stay out of the sun and wait a day before doing any strenuous exercise.

With most fillers, you have to avoid touching the injection spot for a few days. Other fillers require gentle massage. Your doctor will give you instructions on follow-up care.

To keep up the look of fillers, you’ll need to repeat the treatment every six months to a year. That’s because the body eventually breaks down and absorbs the materials in the filler.

What Is Filler Migration?

So, what happens to fillers in your face in the weeks and months following the injection? Usually, the filler stays in the chosen spot and gives you the look you want.

But in some cases, the filler moves to other areas. You’ll know if your filler migrates because you’ll see fullness or possibly lumps in areas of your face that didn’t get an injection.

Filler migration may happen for several reasons. They include:

• Gravity — Can add to the risk of migrated filler, especially around the lips.
• High-pressure injection — If injected with too much force, the filler can move into surrounding tissue.
• Lymphatic spread — Filler can move if it gets into your lymph vessels.
• Massage — If you rub the area too hard after treatment, it may lead to migration.
• Muscle activity — The areas around the mouth, lips, and eyes move more than other areas of the face, possibly leading to migration.
• Overfilling — You received too much filler in one area.
• Poor injection technique — If a provider injects the filler into the wrong layer of tissue, it may migrate.

How Common Is Filler Migration?

There are no hard and fast numbers for how often filler migrates. But the good news is that filler migration is far less common than social media would have you believe. Most experts agree that it’s rare.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more people are getting fillers than ever before. There were nearly 3.5 million filler procedures done in 2023 in the U.S., up 4% from 2022. As a consequence of the rising popularity of fillers, more complications are occurring — but the vast majority of procedures are free of problems.

Does Filler Dissolve?

You may wonder: Does lip filler dissolve on its own?

Yes, dermal filler eventually dissolves on its own — and filler will still dissolve if it migrates. The body naturally breaks down and absorbs the materials in dermal filler within six months to a year.

If you’re willing to wait for filler to dissolve on its own, you don’t need to do anything else. Your face will go back to its normal look after the filler dissolves.

Can I Get Filler Dissolved?

The short answer is yes: Dissolving filler by medical means is possible. If filler migrates or you simply don’t like how it looks, you can have another procedure to dissolve it.

This procedure uses an enzyme called hyaluronidase to break down the hyaluronic acid in filler.

Hyaluronidase occurs naturally in the body and is what eventually breaks down filler over months. But your doctor can administer a concentrated injection of hyaluronidase to dissolve the filler almost immediately.

You should see results right away. Then, over the next few days, your body will completely reabsorb the filler.

Possible side effects of dissolving filler include:

• Bruising.
• Pain at the injection site.
• Redness.
• Swelling.

How Do I Keep Fillers from Migrating?

It’s important to see a medical professional who has a lot of experience with fillers. You should see a plastic surgeon or cosmetic dermatologist for any injectable dermatology procedures or to have your fillers dissolved.

Plastic surgeons and cosmetic dermatologists are medical doctors. They have years of training in the skin and underlying nerves, muscles, and blood vessels. This knowledge is important in understanding how and where to inject fillers.

Places you should never get cosmetic fillers include:

• At a nonmedical spa.
• At a party.
• At a salon.
• In someone’s home.
• On a cruise.